Most fit exercise sledge hammer

ABSTRACT

A sledge hammer with an elongate handle having a longitudinal axis and a flexible generally geometrically uniform removable mass affixed to the handle at a distal end thereof. The mass is secured to the handle with a bolt adapted to extend through the mass and into the distal end of the handle. The bolt is threaded and engages mating threads in the handle. A cone is disposed on the distal end of the handle between the handle and the mass to secure the mass to the handle In the best mode, the mass is a ball which may be perfectly round or have one or more flat surfaces. The ball should have some dampening properties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to exercise apparatus. More specifically,the present invention relates to systems and techniques for exercisingusing sledge hammers, medicine balls and other similar apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the fitness industry, a plethora of machines and devices have beenused to facilitate muscular development, body health and overallfitness. One such device is a sledge hammer. As is well-known by manywith experience in the use of sledge hammers for construction, exerciseand other purposes, the repetitive motion of lifting a sledge hammerworks a number of muscle groups including triceps, latissimus dorsi,rectus abdominus, transverse abdominus, internal and external obliques,lateral deltoids, rear deltoids, anterior deltoids, glutes, quadriceps,and hamstrings. Supplemental benefits of using the sledge hammer includeaerobic conditioning, neuromuscular facilitation, coordination andincreased excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC).

Typically, a conventional sledge hammer has a wooden handle and ametallic head. The handle can range from 0.5 meters (1 ft 8 in) to afull 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) in length, depending on the mass of the head.The head mass is usually 1 to 3 kilograms (2.2 to 6.6 lb). Modern heavyduty sledgehammers come with 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9.1 kg) heads.

Sledgehammers usually require two hands and a swinging motion involvingthe entire torso, in contrast to smaller hammers used for driving innails. The combination of a long swinging range, and heavy head,increase the force of the resulting impact, (Seehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sledgehammer.)

Sledgehammers are increasingly being used as inexpensive exerciseequipment; since all major upper body muscle groups need to put forth asignificant amount of force when swinging a sledgehammer, it can easilybe used to work muscles to failure as in resistance training.

When used for exercise, the hammer is struck against a flexible surfacethat safely dampens the momentum of the head. A rubber tire is oftenused as the hammer's target as its elasticity reduces the shock to theuser's joints when used for this purpose.

Hence, conventional sledge hammers used for exercise typically requiretwo components, a hammer and a target surface for safely receiving theimpact of the hammer. This adds to the cost and limits the options of aconventional sledge hammer as an exercise solution.

In addition, most sledge hammers do not allow for the weight of the headto be changed or adjusted. Accordingly, a hammer may be too light forsome users and too heavy for others.

Hence, a need remains in the art for a simple all in one low cost sledgehammer implementation for exercise purposes that enables hammer heads ofdifferent weights and sizes to be used as an all-in-one solution withoutthe need for supplemental equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The need in the art is addressed by the sledge hammer of the presentinvention. The inventive hammer includes an elongate handle having alongitudinal axis and a flexible generally geometrically uniformremovable mass affixed to the handle at a distal end thereof.

In the illustrative embodiment, the mass is secured to the handle with abolt adapted to extend through the mass and into the distal end of thehandle. The bolt is threaded and engages mating threads in the handle.Preferably, a cone is disposed on the distal end of the handle betweenthe handle and the mass to secure the mass to the handle. As analternative, the mass may be secured to the handle with a Velcro strap.

In the best mode, the mass is a ball which may be perfectly round orhave one or more flat surfaces. The ball should have some dampeningproperties and may be elastic is as well. Rubber would be an idealmaterial for the construction of the ball. The ball may be at leastpartially translucent. If so, a light may be mounted inside the ball.

A striking target may be used. The target may be a simple surface orobject. In the alternative, the striking target may include anelectronic sensor for measuring the number and strength of each hammerstrike and provide a digital readout with respect thereto.

In addition, a camera or radio frequency (RF) ID tag may be used tosense the position of the hammer and provide a display on a monitor withrespect to the position thereof. As an alternative, the display may beimplemented with virtual goggles. The display may be implemented in thecontext of a virtual or gaming environment allowing the user to easilyvisualize the exercise session m a realistic or fantasy context.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the sledge hammerof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of an illustrative embodiment of anelectronic striking target in accordance with an alternative embodimentof the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments and exemplary applications will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings to disclose theadvantageous teachings of the present invention.

While the present invention is described herein with reference toillustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those havingordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided hereinwill recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodimentswithin the scope thereof and additional fields in which the presentinvention would be of significant utility.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the sledge hammerof the present invention. The inventive hammer 10 includes an elongatehandle 12 having a longitudinal axis and a flexible generallygeometrically uniform removable mass 14 affixed to the handle 12 at adistal end thereof. In the best mode, the handle 12 is fiberglass.However, wood, plastic, metal and other suitably stiff materials may besuitable. In any case, in the illustrative embodiment, the handle 12 isapproximately three (3) feet (less than one (1) meter) in length andapproximately 1.5 inches in diameter. A grip 13 is included at theproximal end of the handle 12. The grip 13 may be implemented withgrooves cut into the handle or with tape wrapped around the handle 12.

In the best mode, the mass 14 is a ball which may be perfectly round orhave one or more flat surfaces. The ball 14 should have some dampeningproperties and may be elastic as well. Rubber would be an ideal materialfor the construction of the ball however the present invention is notlimited thereto.

In the illustrative embodiment, the ball 14 is secured to the handlewith a bolt 16 adapted to extend through the ball 14 and into the distalend of the handle 12. (As an alternative, the ball 14 may be secured tothe handle 12 with a Velcro strap (not shown)).

The bolt 16, which may be steel, aluminum, plastic. or other suitablematerial, is threaded and engages mating threads in the handle 12aligned around the longitudinal axis thereof. In the best mode, the bolthead 22 is flat and has a cutout not shown to receive a hex key or Allenwrench, or other suitable tool, to effect tightening or removal thereof.The ball has a conical recess 24 to effect a flush mounting of the boltin the mass 14. The threaded bolt mounting arrangement allows for aneasy interchangeability of the ball 14 allowing the user to readily tochange the ball to select a lighter or heavier weight. Hence, the ballcan be as light as 6 pounds and as heavy as 15 pounds.

The ball 14 may be at least partially translucent. If so, a light (notshown) may be mounted inside the ball. Electronics may be includedinside the ball (i.e., piezoelectric transducer, battery, switch etc.)to cause the light to activate on impact for a pleasing visual effectwhen in use. The circuit could be set to cause the ball to glow brighteror in a different color depending on the number or intensity of theimpact. This could add a level of motivation for the user to meet orexceed a threshold or workout goal.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cone 20 is disposed on the distal end of thehandle 12 between the handle 12 and the ball 14 to secure the ball 14 tothe handle. The cone 20 is approximately six inches in length. The cone20 has a diameter at the proximal end thereof that is slightly greaterthan the diameter of the handle 12 so that it fits over the distal end18 of the handle 12. The distal end of the cone 20 has a diameter ofapproximately six (6) inches to receive and retain the ball 14.

In the best mode, the optional battery, electronics, etc., discussedabove, are disposed within the cone 20 and the light, if an mountedwithin the ball is a length of fiber optic that is illuminated by a lampin the cone, not shown. In this case, in the best mode, the opticalfiber light is disposed on or just below the surface of the ball,permitting illumination with ball materials that are not translucent.Metal contacts may be disposed on the surface of the ball connected to alamp disposed within the ball and adapted to engage correspondingcontacts in the cone to effect electrical connection to the circuitrytherein in the event the optional display is implemented. Otherelectronic features could be included as well such as an audiocapability, motion sensing, wireless connectivity, etc.

In use, the hammer 10 is repeated lifted and slammed onto a suitablesurface or target. The target may be a simple surface or object.

FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of an illustrative embodiment of anelectronic striking target in accordance with an alternative embodimentof the present invention. In this embodiment, an optional electronicstriking target 30 is added. The striking target 30 includes anelectronic sensor 34 mounted on a base 36 for measuring the number andstrength of each hammer strike and provide a digital readout withrespect thereto. The sensor is exaggerated in size and in practiceshould be flush with the base surface. The readout is effected viadisplay 38 mounted in the base 36. Circuitry may be included in the base36 or the cone 20 to display beats per minute, total beats, caloriesburned, etc. on the base unit. Ideally, the sensor, circuitry anddisplay are all embodied in a mat mounted parallel to the floor.

Thus, the present mention has been described herein with reference to aparticular embodiment for a particular application. Those havingordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings willrecognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments withinthe scope thereof. For example, a camera or radio frequency (RF) ID tag(not shown) may be used to sense the position of the hammer and providea display on a monitor with respect to the position thereof. As analternative, the display may be implemented with virtual goggles. Thedisplay may be implemented in the context of a virtual or gamingenvironment allowing the user to easily visualize the exercise sessionin a realistic or fantasy context.

It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and allsuch applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of thepresent invention.

Accordingly,

What is claimed is:
 1. A sledge hammer comprising: an elongate handlehaving a longitudinal axis and a flexible generally geometricallyuniform removable mass affixed to said handle at a distal end thereof.2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mass is secured to said handlewith a bolt adapted to extend through said mass and into the distal endof said handle.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said bolt isthreaded and engages mating threads in said handle.
 4. The invention ofclaim 1 further including a cone disposed on said distal end of saidhandle between said handle and said mass to secure said mass to saidhandle.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mass is secured to saidhandle with a Velcro strap.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidmass is a ball.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said ball is round.8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said ball is generally round withnumerous flat surfaces.
 9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said ball iselastic.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said all is rubber. 11.The invention of claim 9 wherein said ball is made of at least partiallytranslucent material.
 12. The invention of claim 11 further including alight inside said ball.
 13. The invention of claim 6 further including astriking target.
 14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said targetincludes a mechanism for registering the number and/or impact of eachstrike by said hammer.
 15. The invention of claim 14 further including adigital readout.
 16. The invention of claim 6 further including meansfor sensing the position of said hammer and/or said user and providing adisplay on a monitor.
 17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said displayis provided in a virtual or gaming environment.
 18. The invention ofclaim 16 wherein said means includes a gaming platform.
 19. Theinvention of claim 16 wherein said display includes virtual goggles. 20.An exercise sledge hammer comprising: an elongate handle having alongitudinal axis; a flexible generally geometrically uniform removablerubber ball affixed to said handle at a distal end thereof, said ballbeing generally round with numerous flat surfaces and secured to saidhandle with a bolt adapted to extend through said ball and into thedistal end of said handle, said bolt being threaded and adapted toengage mating threads in said handle; and a cone disposed on said distalend of said handle between said handle and said mass to secure said massto said handle.